Vinyl chloride copolymers

ABSTRACT

Improved thermoplastic materials are provided which are polymeric products comprising from 99 to 1 percent by weight of vinyl chloride units, from 1 to 90 percent by weight of N-aryl maleimide units and from 0 to 49 percent by weight of units derived from at least one other copolymerisable ethylenically unsaturated compound. Very interesting materials are obtained when the said compound comprises not more than 20 percent by weight of the polymeric product. The preferred products contain from 60 to 99 percent by weight of vinyl chloride residues, from 1 to 40 percent by weight of N-aryl maleimide residues and 0 to 20 percent by weight of residues derived from the other monoethylenically unsaturated compound.

United States Patent Nield et al. May 30, 1972 [56] References Cited [54] VINYL CHLORIDE COPOLYMERS UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] fifi f ggg fggs ggs; g 'f 2,342,295 2/1944 Orthner 6: a1 ..260/78 UA gland 2,384,239 9/1945 Dorough ..260/78 UA 2,650,215 8/1953 Strain ..260/78 UA [73] Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, 2,743,260 4/1956 Tawney ..260/78 UA London, England 2,403,960 7/1946 Stoops et al. 260/78 UA 1 Filed: g 11, 1970 3,352,832 11/1967 Barr et al. 260/78 UA [21] Appl. No.: 63,011 Primary Examiner-Harold D. Anderson Atromey-Cushman, Darby & Cushman Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 696,122, Jan. 3, 1968, aban- [571 ABSTRACT dolled, which is a continuafion'in'pan of lmproved thermoplastic materials are provided which are 374,181 June 10, 1964 abandonedpolymeric products comprising from 99 to 1 percent by weight of vinyl chloride units, from 1 to 90 percent by weight of N- Foreign PP Dam aryl maleimide units and from 0 to 49 percent by weight of June 18, 1963 Great Britain ..24,223 63 unite defl'ved from at lees! one other eevelymerisable ethylenically unsaturated compound. Very interesting materi- 52 us. c1 ..260/47 UA, 260/17 A, 260/23 XA, ale mined when Said mPrises 260/29.6 TA, 260/29.6 RW, 260/ 326 N, 260/3218 than 20 percent by weight of the polymeric product. The N, 260,314 R, 260/316 UA, 260,333 U A, 260/41 preferred products contain from 60 to 99 percent by weight of R, 260/78 UA, 260/884, 260/890, 260/895 vinyl chloride residues, from 1 to 40 percent by weight of N- [51] Int. Cl ..C08g 20/00 aryl maleimide residues and 0 I0 20 Percent y Weight of 58 Field of Search ..260/78 UA, 47 U residues derived from the ether moheethylenieelly unsaturated compound.

7 Claims, No Drawings This application is a continuation of our application Ser. No. 696,122 filed on Jan. 8, 1968, which is a continuation-inpart of our application Ser. No. 374,181 filed on June 10, 1964, both now abandoned.

The present invention relates to new polymeric products, particularly those derived by polymerizing together Nsubstituted maleimides and vinyl chloride.

According to the present invention we provide anew class of thermoplastic materials which are polymeric products comprising from 99 to 1 percent by weight of vinyl chloride units, from I to 99 percent by weight of N-aryl maleimide units and from to 49 percent by weight of units derived from at least one other copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated compound. Very interesting materials are obtained when the said compound comprises not more than 20 percent by weight of the polymeric product.

These products are thermoplastic, strong and insensitive to water and often more stable to degradation at elevated temperatures than homopolymers of vinyl chloride. Those of our specified products which comprise vinyl chloride in major amounts together with N-aryl maleimide residues alone or with residues of a third monomer whose homopolymer has a softening point at least equal to that of a polyvinyl chloride of comparable molecular weight have most of the properties normally associated with vinyl chloride resins but in addition have usefully increased softening points, often of an order sufficient to allow continuous contact with boiling water without serious I distortion. Furthermore, this improvement is achieved without any substantial increase in water-sensitivity and little, if any, deterioration in thermal stability.

it will be appreciated that the nature of the product will be determined at least in part by the relative proportions of the com onent monomers and that a wide variety of novel thermoplastic materials are obtainable. However, while the product may contain as little as 1 percent by weight of vinyl chloride or the N-aryl maleimide or as much & 99 percent by weight of either monomer or as much as 49 percent by weight of a third monomer copolymerisable with the other two, where it is intended to be a modified form of polyvinyl chloride and moldable or otherwise shapeable in much the same way as polyvinyl chloride we prefer the proportion of vinyl chloride present to be not less than 60 percent by weight. On the other hand, in order to obtain a useful increase in softening point where such is desired, we prefer the product to contain at least 1 percent by weight of N-aryl maleimide The third component in such cases is preferably present in amounts of not more than 20 percent by weight. Thus, the preferred products contain from 60 to 99 percent by weight of vinyl chloride residues, from I to 40 percent by weight of N- aryl maleimide residues and 0 to 20 percent of residues derived from any other monoethylenically unsaturated compound copolymerisable with both the vinyl chloride and the N-aryl maleimide, the quantities to total 100 percent. We have found that, as a general rule, as the N-aryl maleimide content is increased, the tensile yield stress is increased but the ease of moulding is decreased. In order to get the best combination of good moulding properties and high tensile. strength, we further prefer products containing from 70 to 90 percent by weight of vinyl chloride residues, to 30 percent by weight of N-aryl maleimide residues and 0 to percent by weight of residues derived from other monomers copolymerizable with both vinyl chloride and N-aryl maleimide, the quantities to total 100 percent.

By an N-aryl maleimide we mean a compound notionally derived by replacing the hydrogen atom attached to the imide nitrogen atom of maleimide by a monovalent aromatic radical. The monovalent aromatic radical may be derived from a wholly aromatic hydrocarbon which is unsubstituted, e.g., benzene, diphenyl or naphthalene or in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms has or have been replaced by other monovalent atoms of groups; for instance, halogen atoms (e.g., chlorine, bromine, fluorine), hydroxyl groups,

groups, alkyl, aralkyl and cycloalkyl groupstparticularly those containing up to four aliphatic carbon atoms) and groups having the structure NH Nl-lR, NRR, OR, CN, MOR, SR, COOR, COOH, OCOR, NHCOR and CONHR where M is a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon radical, e.g., alkylene, and R and R are each monovalent hydrocarbon radicals for instance alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl, preferably containing not more than eight carbon atoms, or halogenated (e.g., brominated, chlorinated or fluorinated) derivatives thereof. Two of the hydrogen atoms of the aromatic hydrocarbon may be replaced by a divalent radical to yield, for example, compounds such as indene or coumarone. We prefer that the substituent contains no active hydrogen atoms since these may take may take part in reactions detrimental to the polymerization reaction. Examples of such substituents are OH, NH, and COOH groups. N-aryl maleimides that we have found to be particularly suitable for use in our invention are N-phenyl maleimide and substituted derivatives thereof in which at least one of the aromatically bound hydrogen atoms has been substituted by a halogen atom, a nitro group, a nitrile group or an alkyl or alkoxy group containing from one to four carbon atoms.

Examples of our preferred aromatic and substituted aromatic radicals are phenyl, p-diphenyl, a-naphthyl, B-naphthyl, 0-, mand p-tolyl, 2, 3, and 4-chlorophenyl, 4-bromophenyl, 2, 3 and 4-nitrophenyl, 2,4,5-trichlorophenyl, 2,4,6- tribromophenyl, 2, 3 and 4-t-butylphenyl, 2,4-dinitrophenyl,

benzylphenyl, 2 and 3-methoxyphenyl, 4-ethoxyphenyl, 4- phenoxyphenyl, 2-chloro-4-phenoxy methyl phenyl, 4- cyanophenyl and 2-methyl-4-chlorophenyl.

We further prefer that the substituent is not such as to increase the basicity of the imido nitrogen atom since the products obtained from polymerization of these monomers with vinylchloride may suffer from reduced thermal stability. Examples of such substituents are halogen atoms and alkoxy groups. However, in some cases it isdesirable to use N- (halogen substituted aryl) maleimides because they generally yield products of goodcolor. In these circumstances, we prefer the bromoor chloro-substituted derivatives because of their ready availability.

Where N-(substituted-phenyl) maleimides are used, we prefer those having a substituent in the 2-position on the phen yl radical, because the use of such compounds generally leads to polymeric products with a greater freedom from color than is possible with other substituted N-phenyl maleimides.

Examples of monomers which may provide units forming up to 49 percent by weight of the copolymer are ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbons, (e.g., alkenes, dienes and aralkenes) and their halogenated derivatives; ethylenically unsaturated esters, e.g., esters of saturated alcohols and ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids and esters of ethylenically unsaturated alcohols and saturated carboxylic acids, ethylenically unsaturated ethers and anhydrides of ethylenically unsaturated acids. Specific examples include styrene, halogen-substituted styrenes, a-alkyl (e.g., a-methyl) styrene, unsaturated (e.g., vinyl or allyl) esters of fatty acids (particularly acetic acid), alkyl esters of acrylic acid (e.g., methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, 2-ethyl hexyl and octadecyl acrylate), alkyl esters of methacrylic acid (e.g., methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, 2-ethyl hexyl and octadecyl methacrylate), alkenyl others such as the vinyl ethers of alcohols containing up to four carbon atoms, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, vinylidene chloride, dialkyl esters of monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids such as diethyl fumaratc and dimethyl maleate, maleic anhydride, dienes such as butadiene, isoprene and divinyl benzene and other multi-ethylenically unsaturated compounds such as glycol dimethacrylate. The monomer is preferably one that has no adverse effects on the property of the copolymer.

Normally the reason for including such a third copolymerizable component is to modify the properties in ,some desirable manner, for example to improve the flow pronitro perties under conditions encountered during fabrication or to reduce residual color in the copolymer or to introduce unsaturated groups for later cross-linking. However, the addition of some of these monomers may decrease or destroy the improvement in softening point obtained by introducing the N- aryl maleimideuWh'ere it is desired to retain the improvement in softening point, suitable comonomers are those whose homopolymers have a softening point at least equal to that of a polyvinyl chloride of comparable molecular weight. The softening points of the homopolymer and the polyvinyl chloride may be compared by any suitable test. For instance the l/ 1 th Vicat softening point or the Heat Distortion Temperature. Common examples of such monomers are vinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, styrene, a-methyl styrene, o-chlorostyrene and maleic anhydride. In other cases where increase in softening point is desired, it is generally preferred to exclude any third monomer.

The product may be prepared by any of the well-known polymerization processes used for vinyl chloride, i.e., in bulk, in solution, in aqueous emulsion or in aqueous suspension (e.g., by what is normally termed a granular process in vinyl chloride polymerization art). When using a solvent process the organic compound used as the solvent should not react with any of the monomers, and preferably should have little or no chain transfer effect on the polymerization reaction. .Suitable solvents are hydrocarbons such as hexane, heptane, octane, benzene or toluene, alcohols such as methanol or ethanol, ethers such as diethyl ether or ketones such as acetone. Chlorinated hydrocarbons may also be used but tend to have a chain transfer effect on the polymeization. Examples are l,l-dichloroethane, tetrachloroethane, methylene dichloride, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride.

The polymerization may be initiated by any suitable source of free radicals but is preferably effected in the presence of a free radical yielding catalyst active at the polymerization temperature.

Polymerization is preferably effected in aqueous medium as this afiords ready dissipation of the heat of polymerization and avoids the use of expensive solvent recovery apparatus. Emulsion polymerization in aqueous medium is effected by reacting the ingredients dispersed in water in the presence of a watersoluble free radical catalyst, generally in the presence of a surface active agent. The surface active agent may be anionic (e.g., a salt of a long chain alkyl sulphonic acid), non-ionic (eg a water-soluble polymer such as polyethylene oxide) or cationic (e.g., a quaternary ammonium salt) and may be selected from those generally known for the polymerization of vinyl chloride. In granular polymerization, a dispersing agent (e.g., a protective colloid such as methyl cellulose or hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate) and a monomer-soluble catalyst are used. Temperatures normally used in the production of vinyl chloride (i.e., from about 25 to 80 C.) may be used for the polymerization and a very suitable temperature range is from 25 to 65 C. although higher or lower temperatures may be used if desired.

Suitable catalysts are selected from those normally used for the homopolymerization of vinyl chloride. In the case of granular polymerization examples include azo-nitriles such as ad-azodidsobutyronitrile and monomer-soluble peroxides such as lauroyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide and other organic compounds containing the peroxide -0-O linkage. In the case of emulsion polymerization, hydrogen peroxide or watersoluble salts of peroxy acids are normally used. An example is ammonium persulphate. We have found that the presence of the N-aryl maleimide may increase the reaction time and also decrease the molecular weight of the product. The former effect may be reduced by the choice of a more active catalyst and the latter may be avoided to some extent by reducing the polymerization temperature. if further increase in reaction time is not to be incurred by this remedy, it may be desirable in this case also to compensate this by the choice of a more active catalyst. Normally the amount of catalyst required to give useful results lies between 0.01 and 2 percent by weight of the polymerizable monomers.

In our preferred process, the water, catalyst, surface active agent (i.e., emulsifier or dispersing agent) and N-aryl malernide are charged to a reaction vessel from which air is then removed, e.g. by purging with an inert gas, e.g., nitrogen, or by evacuation or both. The vinyl chloride is then charged to the vessel and the reactants brought to the reaction temperature to induce polymerization. Owing to differences in reactivity of vinyl chloride and N-aryl maleirnides a simple batch reaction in which all the monomers are charged to the reaction vessel at the commencement of polymerization may give rise to heterogeneous products wherein the portion of the polymer formed at the beginning of the reaction tends to be enriched with the N-aryl maleimide at the expense of the portion of the polymer formed at the end of the reaction.

in some cases it is desirable to improve the homogeneity or uniformity of the polymer and this may be achieved by adding the desired amount of the N-aryl maleimide continuously or discontinuously, i.e., in increments throughout the reaction. in such a case, the compound is conveniently added as a solution in a suitable solvent or as a dispersion in water.

Instead of adding the N-aryl maleimide itself, a mixture of the N-aryl maleimide and vinyl chloride may be added continuously or discontinuously.

In order to achieve the optimum uniformity the rate of addition of the N-aryl maleimide or mixture of the N-aryl maleimide and vinyl chloride should be carefully controlled. One method of controlling the addition is by measuring the heat of polymerization during the reaction by isothermal or adiabatic calorimetry and adding the monomer pro rata as heat is produced. The amount of heat produced can provide an accurate indication of the amount of polymer formed and hence the amounts of the monomers utilized.

In principle the total amount of heat produced per gram of polymer formed can be calculated from the heats of copolyrnerisation of the monomers or approximately from their heats of homopolymerization. Thus the amount of heat produced for complete polymerization can be foretold in any particular case. Likewise the total amount of monomer to be added for a percent yield of a polymeric product of the desired composition can be calculated in advance, and hence also the amount of monomer to be added to correspond linearly with a measured amount of heat. In practice, however, it is usually convenient to calibrate the reaction system empirically, in terms of the relative amounts of monomers and heat, to give unifonn polymeric products of a particular composition. In this way, also, any incidental losses of heat from the system are allowed for, which would be troublesome if reliance were placed solely on values calculated from heats of copolymerization.

The composition of the copolymer produced depends very closely on the concentration of monomers in the polymerizing mixture, and this is reflected in the amount of each monomer needed in the initial charge. This can be calculated approximately or determined empirically.

Where a third monomer such as acrylonitrile or styrene is polymerized with the vinyl chloride and the N-aryl maleimide the additional monomer can form part of the initial charge or can be metered in to the reaction vessel in a like manner during the reaction.

Where such steps are not taken to obtain a homogenous polymeric product and all the monomers are charged to the reaction vessel initially, since the amount of N-aryl maleimide found in the polymer is generally greater than that expected from the monomer composition, it may be necessary to add the N-aryl maleimide in a quantity somewhat below that required in the polymeric product. A reduction of up to about 5 to 10 percent by weight is usually adequate although a greater reduction may be required in some circumstances.

After polymerization, the polymeric product may be separated from the reaction liquor in any suitable way such as, for example, by filtration or centrifugation, by heat or by a combination of these methods. The product may then be purified, e.g., by washing with a suitable preferential solvent such as water, an ether or an alcohol. Finally, it may be dried, e.g., in a fluidized bed or by spray drying or by drying in an oven.

Ancillary ingredients may be added to the product and examples of such ingredients include fillers (e.g. glass fibers), pigments, heat and light stabilizers, plasticizers, lubricants and mould release agents. The copolymers may also be blended with other polymeric material, e.g., thermoplastics such as polyvinyl chloride or synthetic rubbers such as those derived from butadiene.

As those products containing 60 percent or more by weight of vinyl chloride residues possess, in general, most of the properties normally associated with polyvinyl chloride they may be used with effect in any application where a polyvinyl chloride would be used. Our preferred products may be used additionally in many applications debarred to the polyvinyl chloride because of its poor dimensional stability at elevated temperatures. Thus, our materials are particularly useful in the fabrication of rigid mouldings by any of the fabrication procedures used for thermoplastic materials such as extrusion, injection-, compressionor transfer-moulding, Those polymers having reduced viscosities (measured on a solution of 0.5 g. of polymer in 100 ml. of dimethylformarnide at 25 C.) of at least 0.3 are particularly suitable for such applicatrons.

The shaped articles formed from many of the polymeric products may be subjected to elevated temperatures normally above the softening points of homopolymers of vinyl chloride. Uses include pipes and joints for use in hot water plumbing. Other applications will readily come to the mind of a polymer fabricator.

The invention is illustrated by the following Examples in which all parts are expressed as parts by weight. In all the Examples, reduced viscosities were measured on solutions of 0.5 gm. of polymer in 100 mls. of dimethyl fonnarnide at 25 C unless. otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLE 1 One hundred parts of vinyl chloride were dispersed in 200 parts of water using 0.5 part of partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate as the dispersing agent. One part of lauroyl peroxide was added as catalyst and the dispersion was agitated under an atmosphere of nitrogen at' 100 200 lbs/sq. in. and at a temperature of 45 C. for 66 hours. The resulting slurry of polymer in water was centrifuged to separate the solid product which was then washed thoroughly with water and dried under vacuum. The yield was 98 parts of polyvinyl chloride having a reduced viscosity of 1.2 and l/lOth and 10th Vicat softening points of 76 and 103 C. as measured on a sample stabilized with 2 percent by weight of a commercially available organo-tin stabilizer and pressed from the polymer without any preliminary working up.

The polymerization was repeated using 90 parts of vinyl chloride and 10 parts of N-phenyl maleimide. The yield of product after 66 hours reaction at 45 C. followed by separa' tion, purification and drying was about 100 percent theoretical. It was in the form of near-white granules and had a reduced viscosity of 0.94. The product was mixed with 2 percent by weight of a commercially available organo-tin stabilizer by adding a solution of the stabilizer and evaporating the solvent, and moulding at 170 C. to give very pale brown discs having a 1/10th Vicat softening point, measured under the same conditions as that of the homopolymer of vinyl chloride, of 795 C., 3.5 C. higher than polyvinyl chloride. The 10/10th Vicat softening point was 1 13 C.

Analysis of the copolymer by chlorine content showed it to contain 89 percent by weight of vinyl chloride units and 11 percent by weight of N-phenyl maleimide units.

EXAMPLE 2 The process of Example 1 was repeated using 80 parts of vinyl chloride and 20 parts of N-phenyl maleimide and afier 46 hours polymerization and subsequent separation, purification and drying, 95.2 pans of polymeric product were obtained in the form of off-white granules and had a reduced viscosity of 0.80.

After blending with a 2 percent by weight commercially available organo-tin stabilizer in the manner described in Example 1, the product was moulded at 170 C. to give pale brown discs having 1/10th and 10/ 10th Vicat softening points, measured as in Example 1, of 103 C. (27 C. higher than polyvinyl chloride) and l21.5 C.

Analysis of the product by chlorine content showed it to contain 78.5 percent by weight of vinyl chloride units and 21.5 percent by weight of N-phenyl maleimide. 1

By way of comparison, the process was repeated using 20 parts of N-benzyl maleimide, parts of vinyl chloride, 285 parts of water, one part of lauroyl peroxide and 0.7 part of partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate. The polymerization was efiected at 45 C. for 29 hours and the product was illtered, washed with water and dried thoroughly to yield 45.5 parts of polymeric material containing 26.2 percent by weight of N-benzyl maleimide by nitrogen analysis. The product was blended with stabilizer as in Example 1 and compression moulded to give discs having a l/ 10th Vicat softening point of only 73 C. (less than that of polyvinyl chloride) and was also found to be insoluble in all common solvents.

In a further comparative experiment, 80 parts of vinyl chloride were polymerized with 20 parts of maleimide in 200 parts of waterand in the presence of one part of lauroyl peroxide and 0.5 part of partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetate. The polymerization was effected at 45 C. for 17 hours and the product filtered, washed and dried to yield 56.2 parts of polymeric material having a reduced viscosity of 0.7 and containing 44.7 percent by weight of maleimide. Compression moulded discs of the stabilized polymer had a l/10th Vicat softening point of only 61.8 C. and were notably unstable. After a few days, the container in which samples were stored showed signs of corrosion by hydrogen chloride. Furthermore, after immersion at 55 60 C. the product was found to be considerably more sensitiveto water than polyvinyl chloride. This is illustrated in Table below.

% increase in weight after immersion in The reduction in weight after the initial increase indicates that the vinyl chloride/maleimide polymerization product may be dissolving.

EXAMPLE 3 The process of Example I was repeated using 30 parts of N- phenyl maleimide, 70 parts of vinyl chloride and a temperature of 40 C. to yield 68 parts of pale yellow granules having a reduced viscosity of 0.87. The product was mixed with 2 percent by weight of a commercially available organo-tin stabilizer and pressed at 170 C. to yield brown opaque discs having l/lOth and 10/ 10th Vicat softening points of and 147 C. Analysis showed it to contain 63 percent by weight of vinyl chloride and 37 percent by weight of N-phenyl maleimide. A comparison of the product of this Example with those of Examples l and 2 is shown in the Table below.

% by weight of N-phenyl maleimide Reduced Vicat Softening Points in product Viscosity l/ 10 l0/l0 0 1.2 76 103 l l 0.94 79.5 1 l3 21.5 0.8 103 121.5 product in fact increases with increase in N-aryl maleimide 37 0.87 130 147 cement 7 EXAMPLE 5 It is notable that theVicat sofiening points showa steady in- 5 A further series f granular polymerizations f vinyl crease m N'aryl malelmlde F whfle the chloride with N-phenyl maleimide were effected at 60 C. molecular weights (as shown by reduced viscosity) decrease. using laumyl peroxide as catalyst and paniauy hydrolyzed This decrease has been ofiset to some extent in Example 3 by polyvinyl acetate as dispersing agem In most cases {he reducmg the polymenzauon temperame' l monomer charge totalled 2,000 parts and 4,000 parts of water EXAMPLE 4 were used. However, in Example F, the water charge was 2,000 parts and the monomer charge 1,000 parts.

A series of granular polymerizations of vinyl chloride and During milling, the product was blended with 1 percent by N-phenyl maleimide were effected to 50 C. in a stirred auweight of dibasic lead stearate and for the Vicat test samples toclave holding 4,000 parts of water containing eight parts of I were compression moulded at 215 C. lauroyl peroxide as catalyst and parts of partially Again it is notable that while the increase in 1/ 10th Vicat hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate asdispersing agent. In each case, softening point is very small, the difficulty of milling the all the ingredients except the vinyl chloride were charged to material as the N-aryl maleimide content increased indicated the vessel which was then evacuated slowly, purged twice with that the temperature at which the material becomes plastic nitrogen and then evacuated again prior to charging the vinyl had increased considerably, especially for those materials conchloride. Monomers were used in amounts to total 2,000 parts taining 30 percent by weight or more of N-aryl maleimide. in each case.

After separation, washing and drying, the products were EXAMPLEG milled with 1 percent by weight of dibasic lead stearate on a two-roll mill and then compression moulded at 215 C. into A further series of granular polymerizations of vinyl specimens whose Vicat softening points were tested. The chloride and N-phenyl maleirnide were effected at 70 C. F ikentscher K-value of each product was recorded to give an using 4,000 parts of water, 2,000 parts of monomer in total, 2 indication of molecular weight. The K-value was calculated parts of lauroyl peroxide and 5 parts of dispersing agent. The from viscosity measurements on solutions of 0.25 gm. of conditions and results are set out below.

Experiment A B C D E N-phenyl maleimide in 0 5 1o 20 3( charge (percent by weight). N-phenyl maleimide in prod- 0 8.1 9.6.

not (percent by weight). Colour of product White White Pale butt. Pale butt- Very pale buff. Macklow-Smith flow pressure 3,330 Not easured 4,030 4,400 Not measured.

(lb/sq. inch) at 150 C. K-value. 65.7 61.8 64,5 60.8 51.0. Milling conditions (tempera- 150 C. for 10 mins. followed 150 0. for 10 mius followed 150 C. for 10 mi a As for C "170 C. for 10 ture and time). by 125 C. for 5 ruins. by 150 C. for 2 mins. 125 C. for 5 ruins. mins. 34129632 sof ening point 83 80.5 81 80 79.

I The product would not gel at 125 C.

Experiment F G H J K L M N Catalyst (par s by weight) 2 8 a 2 2 s 20 .1 8. sp gg anenflparts by 5.... 5 5 10 10 10 weig t N-phenyl maleimide in charge 0 5 5 10 20 60.

(percent by weight). N-phenyl maleimide in product 0 5.3 6.3 10.2 21.1 33.3 45.6 Not measure (percent by weight). Colour of product White Pale butt. Very ale Pale bufi Pale buff Very pale bufl Dark bufi Yellow- Macklow-Smith flow pressure 3,490 3,610 N at rrieas- 4,400 .u N at meas- 4,070 Not meas- Not measured.

(lbJsq. in.) at 150 C. tired. ured. tired- K-value 55.7 54.7 43.2 53.2 49.6 43.0 36.8... Milling conditions As for A. As for .11.. As for A. As [or A. As for A 172 C. for 180 C.

0 mins Ho Vicat softening point 79 81.5 77 83.5 83 80 Not greasure Tonsilo yield stress (lbJsq. 9,330 0,650 Not moas- 9,970 .1 10,800 Not meas- ""110 D0.

nch). ured. urod.

Tho product would not gel at this temperature.

polymer in mls. of ethylene dichloride at 25 C. On some of Experiment 1: Q R the specimens, Macklow-Srnith flow pressures were obtained, indicating the ease of moulding of the products. Increase in f N-phenyl maleimlde in How pressure ind cates a reduction in the case 0 moul mg. charge (parts by weight) 0 10 20 The general decrease in molecular weight and increase in N-phenyl maleimide in Macklow-Smith flow pressure with increase in N-aryl maleif g (P by 0 mide content may be noted. The apparent reduction in l/10th li a flow Vicat softening point is thought to be due to the milling condipressure "IL/sq, in 3290 3520 3870 tions used before pressing. The figures are not a true indica? K ll 47 8 47 8 4 a -V ue tion of the temperature at which the product becomes plastic Mining conditions as for A as for A as for A since during compounding it was noticed that with increase in I 0th Vica, S n i g N-aryl maleimide content, the product became more difficult point 79 so 81 to gel under the conditions normallyused for polyvinyl I V H I cmonde' fachfor Expenmem mmmg temperature During milling, the product was blended vnth a by weight of dibasic lead had to be raised to 1 70 C. before a satisfactory crepe could be mama btain d. This indicates that the true softening point of the Measuredonsamplescompressionmouldcdnt215C.

EXAMPLE 7 An autoclave was charged with 3,500 parts of distilled water, eight parts of lauroyl peroxide, 10 parts of partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate and 200 parts of N-phenyl maleimide as a solution having a strength of 40 gm./ 100 mls. in ethylene dichloride. The vessel was then evacuated, purged twice with nitrogen, evacuated again and charged with 1,800 parts of vinyl chloride and polymerization was effected at 60 C, to yield 1728 pans of off-white product.

EXAMPLE 8 EXAMPLE 9 The process of Example K was repeated using eight parts of lauroyl peroxide, 10 parts of dispersing agent and N-ochlorophenyl maleimide in place of N-phenyl maleimide. 1,655 parts of a white product were obtained having a Fikentscher K-value of 49.6. After milling at 150 C. for 10 minutes, it was pressed to yield a sample having a N 10th Vicat softening point of 83 C.

EXAMPLE 10 A vessel was charged with 200 parts of water containing one part of lauroyl peroxide, 0.5 part of partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate and 20 parts of N-o-chlorophenyl maleimide. The vessel was then pressurized with N and vented three times to remove any dissolved air. Eighty parts of vinyl chloride were then added and the pressure made up to 120 lb./sq. in. with nitrogenv The mixture was shaken at 45 C. for 24 hours. The product was filtered off, washed well with hot water followed by ethanol and then dried in vacuum at 70 75 C. to yield 67 parts having a reduced viscosity of 1.08. The product contained 22.3 weight percent N-o-chlorophenyl maleimide based on nitrogen analysis. After mixing it with 2 percent by weight of stabilizer in the manner described in Example 1, it could be compression moulded into discs with 1/10th and 10/10th Vicat softening points of 89 and 136.6 C.

EXAMPLE 1 l The process of Example 10 was repeated using N-o-tolyl maleimide in place of N-o-chlorophenyl maleimide and the polymerization was effected at 45 C. for 23 hours. The product was worked up as described in Example 10 to yield 55.3 parts of polymeric material having a reduced viscosity of 1.02 and containing 62.5 weight percent vinyl chloride based on chlorine analysis. In this and all the following Examples, the polymer was blended with 2 percent by weight of an organo-tin stabilizer in the manner described in Example 1 and discs were compression moulded from the blend. in this case the compression moulded discs had 1/ 10th and 10/ 10th Vicat softening points of 73.4 and 153.2 C.

EXAMPLE 12 The process of Example 10 was repeated using N-mmethoxyphenyl maleimide in place of N-ochlorophenyl maleimide. The polymerization was effected at 45 C. for 24 hours. The polymer was worked up as described in Example 10 to yield 38 parts of polymeric product containing 45.8 weight percent vinyl chloride based on chlorine analysis. Compression moulded discs had I/ 10th and 10/10th Vicat softening points of 96.8 and 120.6 C.

EXAMPLE 13 The process .of Example 10 was repeated using 20 parts of N-phenyl maleimide, 70 parts of vinyl chloride and 10 parts of styrene. Polymerization was effected at 45 C. for 24 hours. The polymer was worked up as described previously to yield 32.5 parts of product having a reduced viscosity of 2. 14. Compression molded discs had I/ 1 0th and 1011 0th Vicat softening points of 181 and 190 C. The product contained 7.2 percent by weight of chlorine; that is, 12.7 percent by weight of vinyl chloride. Nitrogen analysis (4.6 percent by weight) indicated that the amount of N-phenyl maleimide present was 56.8 percent by weight.

EXAMPA LE 14 The process of Example 13 was repeated using 10 parts of acrylonitrile in place of the styrene. Polymerization was effected at 55 C. and 138 lb./sq. in. for 18% hours. The polymer was worked up as described previously to. yield 48 parts of product having a reduced viscosity of 1.0. Compression mouldings had 1 [10th and l0/10th Vicat softening points of l 13.8 and 157.5 C. The product was found to contain 22.0 percent by weight of chlorine, indicating the presence of 38.7 percent by weight of vinyl chloride. An oxygen analysis of 8.8 percent by weight indicated the presence of 47.6 percent by weight of N-phenyl maleimide.

EXAMPLE 15 Example 13 was repeated using 10 pans of vinyl ethyl ether in place of the styrene. Polymerization was effected at 55 C. for 19 hours. The polymer was worked up as described above to yield 76.4 parts of product having a reduced viscosity of 0.64. compression mouldings had 1/ 10th and 10/ 10th Vicat softening points of 75.8 and 118.2 C. The product contained 37 percent by weight of chlorine, indicating the presence of 65.3 percent by weight of vinyl chloride. Nitrogen analysis (2.1 percent by weight) indicated the presence of 26 percent by weight of N-phenyl maleimide.

EXAMPLE 16 percent by weight) indicated the presence of 55.6 percent by V weightof N-phenyl maleimide. The product was insoluble in common solvents.

EXAMPLE 17 A vessel was charged with 160 parts of methanol, 10 parts of N-phenyl maleimide and one part of lauroyl peroxide. The vessel was then pressurized to 100 lb./sq. inch with nitrogen and vented three times and parts of vinyl chloride added. The mixture was shaken at 50 C. and 1 35 1b./sq. inch for 3 days after which the product was filtered ofi", washed well with methanol and dried in vacuo at 60 C. to yield 73.8 parts of polymeric material having a reduced viscosity of 0.38 and containing 85 weight percent vinyl chloride. Compression mouldings showed 1/ 10th and 10/ 10th Vicat softening points of 708 and C. These low readings were thought to be due to the low molecular weight of the product.

EXAMPLE 18 The process of Example 17 was repeated with parts of N- phenyl maleimide, 90 parts of vinyl chloride, 240 parts of methanol and one part of acetyl cyclohexyl sulphonyl peroxide. The mixture was shaken at 25 C. for 3 days and the solids isolated to yield 73 parts of polymeric product having a reduced viscosity of 0.4 and containing 86.8 weight percent vinyl chloride based on chlorine analysis.

EXAMPLE 19 The process of Example 13 was repeated using 10 parts of a-methyl styrene in place of the styrene. Polymerization was effected at 55 C. for 21 hours to yield 30.8 parts of polymeric product with a reduced viscosity of 0.39. Compression mouldings had l/lOth and 10/ 10th Vicat softening points of 189.5 and 198.7 C. Chlorine and nitrogen contents indicated that the product contained 9.7 percent by weight of vinyl chloride and 54.4 percent by weight of N-phenyl maleimide.

EXAMPLE 20 The process of Example 10 was repeated using 80 parts of vinyl chloride and 20 parts of N-a-naphthyl maleimide. Polymerization was effected at 55 C. for 20 horus to yield 12.5 parts of polymeric product which was insoluble in common organic solvents. Compression mouldings showed l/ 10th and-lO/lOth Vicat softening points of 187.7 and 207.8 C. The product was found to contain 19 percent by weight of vinyl chloride based on chlorine analysis.

EXAMPLE 2! 4.5 parts of N-phenyl maleimide, 0.5 part of vinyl chloride, 17.5 parts of benzene and 0.05 part of acetyl cyclohexyl sulphonyl peroxide were maintained at 30 C. in a degassed sealed tube for 20 hours. The resulting product was filtered ofi, washed with 200 parts of methyl alcohol and dried in vacuum at 75 C. to yield 3.6 parts of polymeric material having a reduced viscosity of 0.32 and containing 9.2 percent by weight of vinyl chloride, based on chlorine analysis.

EXAMPLE 22 chloride content of 60 percent by weight.

The method of adding a comonomer. such as an N-aryl maleimide incrementally during the course of the reaction pro rata as heat is produced is the subject of U.S. Application of Brian Norman Hendy being filed concurrently herewith being a continuation-impart of application Ser. Nos. 765,426 filed on Oct. 7, 1968, now abandoned and of 756,014 filed on Aug. 28, 1968, nowabandoned.

We claim l. A moldable thermoplastic solid polymeric product having a softening point greater than polyvinyl chloride containing units produced by polymerization of vinyl chloride and an N- substituted maleimide by free radical catalysis characterized in that said polymeric product comprises from 99 to 60 per cent by weight of vinyl chloride units from 1 to 40 percent by weight of N-aryl maleimide units and from 0 to 20 percent by weight of units of at least one other ethylenically unsaturated compound copolymerisable with both vinyl chloride and the N-aryl maleimide, the percentages totalling 100 percent, said polymeric product having a reduced viscosity measured on a solution of 0.5 g polymeric product in lOO mls of dimethylformamide at 25 C. of at least 0.3.

2. A solid polymeric product as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said polymeric product comprises from 90 to 70 percent by weight of vinyl chloride units, 10 to 30 percent by weight of said N-aryl maleimide units and from 0 to 20 percent by weight of units of said other ethylenically unsaturated compound, the percentages totalling 100 percent.

3. A solid polymeric product as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said ethylenically unsaturated compound is one whose homopolymer has a softening point at least as high as that of a homopolymer of vinyl chloride of comparable molecular weight.

4. A solid polymeric product as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the N-aryl maleimide is an N-( 2-substituted phenyl) maleimide.

5. A solid polymeric product as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the N-aryl maleimide is a chloroor bromo-substituted N-phenyl maleimide or is N-o-tolyl maleimide or N-mmethoxyphenyl maleimide.

6. A solid polymeric product of vinyl chloride and a N-substituted maleimide which consists essentially of from 99 to 1 percent by weight of vinyl chloride units and from 1 to 99 percent by weight of units of N-phenyl maleimide, N-ochlorophenyl maleimide, N-o-tolyl maleimide, N-rn-methoxyphenyl maleimide or N-a-naphthyl maleimide.

7. A solid polymeric product as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said polymeric product is a copolymer of (i) vinyl chloride, (ii) N-phenyl maleimide and (iii) styrene, acrylonitrile, a-methyl-styrene, vinyl ethyl ether or butadiene. 

2. A solid polymeric product as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said polymeric product comprises from 90 to 70 percent by weight of vinyl chloride units, 10 to 30 percent by weight of said N-aryl maleimide units and from 0 to 20 percent by weight of units of said other ethylenically unsaturated compound, the percentages totalling 100 percent.
 3. A solid polymeric product as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said ethylenically unsaturated compound is one whose homopolymer has a softening point at least as high as that of a homopolymer of vinyl chloride of comparable molecular weight.
 4. A solid polymeric product as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the N-aryl maleimide is an N-(2-substituted phenyl) maleimide.
 5. A solid polymeric product as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the N-aryl maleimide is a chloro- or bromo-substituted N-phenyl maleimide or is N-o-tolyl maleimide or N-m-methoxyphenyl maleimide.
 6. A solid polymeric product of vinyl chloride and a N-substituted maleimide which consists essentially of from 99 to 1 percent by weight of vinyl chloride units and from 1 to 99 percent by weight of units of N-phenyl maleimide, N-o-chlorophenyl maleimide, N-o-tolyl maleimide, N-m-methoxyphenyl maleimide or N- Alpha -naphthyl maleimide.
 7. A solid polymeric product as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said polymeric product is a copolymer of (i) vinyl chloride, (ii) N-phenyl maleimide and (iii) styrene, acrylonitrile, Alpha -methyl-styrene, vinyl ethyl ether or butadiene. 